Trailer Bike info

Bought a trailer bike on the weekend...
here's my brane-dump before I forget it all:

There are a few brands available locally:

Burley - the 'Piccolo' ~ $900
Giant - 'Half-Wheeler' ~ $399
Adams - Trailer-Bike ~ $350 (also a tandem model)
Alley-Cat - Never saw one ~ (guess) $300
Pacific - $300 / $350
Some other brand $275


We borrowed a SS alley-cat, to make sure Katia (5) wasn't
going to say "I hate riding the trailer-bike". Tried it
out on a bikepath & she loved it.

Poking around on news & the web led me to believe the
usual failing point is the hitch with the bike. All trailers
except the Burley connect to the seatpost with various
different clamping mechanisms. The biggest problem reported
is the develpment of 'play' in the hitch. Supposedly the
Burley was immune to this, but I stopped considering it
as soon as I got the quote (from Greenspeed, the official Aus.
retailer).

Most of the lower-end trailer bikes are CrMo steel, and much
the same. Basically you need to spend around $300 to get anything.

When we borrowed the AlleyCat, it was given to us with
the seat+seatpost attached - this was a fairly good indication
as to how easily it detached.

Gears didn't interest me - when the kids are big enough to
get to grips with the gears, they'll probably want their
own full-size bike. This doesn't significantly affect your
choice, most trailer bikes can come with or without gears.

Our target application, apart from weekend riding, is to do
some siginificaqnt touring early next year. So we were definately
looking for something of quality. Also needed to attach a
rear rack & mud-guard.

We ended up buying the Giant one, but had to go home from the
bike shop (45mins each way) to see if, when connected, the
tow arm will clear the rack (50cm, 700C touring bike). It did!

The giant model is an Aluminium alloy rather than steel, and
feels significantly lighter than the others. The hitch is a
quick-release clamp, looks fairly robust (we'll see in 6 months).
The tow-arm is hinged in the middle, and folds back on itself...
thus it can fit inside the car (holden stationwagon), 'cause
these things are a bugger to put on a bikerack.

So, um, that's about it.

cheers,
-kt

kingsley wrote:
Bought a trailer bike on the weekend...
here's my brane-dump before I forget it all:

There are a few brands available locally:

Burley - the 'Piccolo' ~ $900
Giant - 'Half-Wheeler' ~ $399
Adams - Trailer-Bike ~ $350 (also a tandem model)
Alley-Cat - Never saw one ~ (guess) $300
Pacific - $300 / $350
Some other brand $275


We borrowed a SS alley-cat, to make sure Katia (5) wasn't
going to say "I hate riding the trailer-bike". Tried it
out on a bikepath & she loved it.

Poking around on news & the web led me to believe the
usual failing point is the hitch with the bike. All trailers
except the Burley connect to the seatpost with various
different clamping mechanisms. The biggest problem reported
is the develpment of 'play' in the hitch. Supposedly the
Burley was immune to this, but I stopped considering it
as soon as I got the quote (from Greenspeed, the official Aus.
retailer).

Most of the lower-end trailer bikes are CrMo steel, and much
the same. Basically you need to spend around $300 to get anything.

When we borrowed the AlleyCat, it was given to us with
the seat+seatpost attached - this was a fairly good indication
as to how easily it detached.

Gears didn't interest me - when the kids are big enough to
get to grips with the gears, they'll probably want their
own full-size bike. This doesn't significantly affect your
choice, most trailer bikes can come with or without gears.

Our target application, apart from weekend riding, is to do
some siginificaqnt touring early next year. So we were definately
looking for something of quality. Also needed to attach a
rear rack & mud-guard.

We ended up buying the Giant one, but had to go home from the
bike shop (45mins each way) to see if, when connected, the
tow arm will clear the rack (50cm, 700C touring bike). It did!

The giant model is an Aluminium alloy rather than steel, and
feels significantly lighter than the others. The hitch is a
quick-release clamp, looks fairly robust (we'll see in 6 months).
The tow-arm is hinged in the middle, and folds back on itself...
thus it can fit inside the car (holden stationwagon), 'cause
these things are a bugger to put on a bikerack.

So, um, that's about it.

cheers,
-kt


Thanks for that - maybe it could go in the FAQ for future reference?

&roo

"kingsley" wrote in message
newsan.2004.04.06.10.24.44.172116@maddogsbreakfa st.com.au...
Bought a trailer bike on the weekend...
here's my brane-dump before I forget it all:

Pacific - $300 / $350
We bought this one on special this week at $220.

We borrowed a SS alley-cat, to make sure Katia (5) wasn't
going to say "I hate riding the trailer-bike". Tried it
out on a bikepath & she loved it.

Ear to ear smiles from my 4yo who can't yet ride a bike.
He loves being on a bike with daddy.
We'll find out how he feels after a few km next week.

Poking around on news & the web led me to believe the
usual failing point is the hitch with the bike. All trailers
except the Burley connect to the seatpost with various
different clamping mechanisms. The biggest problem reported
is the develpment of 'play' in the hitch.

I've already noticed this issue. As the child moves their weight
around, you get a distinct lean to one side, then it slops to the
other side. A little disconcerting when you are trying to do
hand signals. Probably safer not to do the hand signals.
The hitch might need some modifications later.

Most of the lower-end trailer bikes are CrMo steel, and much
the same. Basically you need to spend around $300 to get anything.
The giant model is an Aluminium alloy rather than steel, and
feels significantly lighter than the others.

Pacific one definitely feels heavy enough to be steel.

We've had a Pacific one for about six months. We got the one with gears and
we are glad we did because it means that Rosie can help out going up hills.

It always leans slightly to one side (I think it has from the start); not
enough to be a major problem, and it definitely never switches the lean from
one side to the other as described below. Still, it would be better if it
didn't lean.

One thing I wish it had is some sort of small loop near where it attaches to
the main bike that you could put a chain through to secure both the main
bike and the trailer bike with one chain (you would need a super-long chain
to reach back to the triangle of the trailer bike). We have thought about
trying to get something like this welded on. This seems like such a simple
and obvious design improvement I can't believe they don't have it.

Regards,
Neil


"Russell Lang" wrote in message
...

"kingsley" wrote in message
newsan.2004.04.06.10.24.44.172116@maddogsbreakfa st.com.au...
Bought a trailer bike on the weekend...
here's my brane-dump before I forget it all:

Pacific - $300 / $350
We bought this one on special this week at $220.

We borrowed a SS alley-cat, to make sure Katia (5) wasn't
going to say "I hate riding the trailer-bike". Tried it
out on a bikepath & she loved it.

Ear to ear smiles from my 4yo who can't yet ride a bike.
He loves being on a bike with daddy.
We'll find out how he feels after a few km next week.

Poking around on news & the web led me to believe the
usual failing point is the hitch with the bike. All trailers
except the Burley connect to the seatpost with various
different clamping mechanisms. The biggest problem reported
is the develpment of 'play' in the hitch.

I've already noticed this issue. As the child moves their weight
around, you get a distinct lean to one side, then it slops to the
other side. A little disconcerting when you are trying to do
hand signals. Probably safer not to do the hand signals.
The hitch might need some modifications later.

Most of the lower-end trailer bikes are CrMo steel, and much
the same. Basically you need to spend around $300 to get anything.
The giant model is an Aluminium alloy rather than steel, and
feels significantly lighter than the others.

Pacific one definitely feels heavy enough to be steel.

coo

I have a Adam's trailer which both my girls love (altho the 9yr old i
too big and my 5yr old is getting too good on her own now

was really cool when they were younger just riding with them and I earn
major brownie points with the girls "Lets go to the shops". I wanna g
with daddy!" and riding with Matilda to school/creche when i was workin
from home

I cant complain really about any noticeable play in the linkage, an
mine usuallyy goes onto my mtb-commuter. wish had got one with gears th
as my territory is very hilly and the supplied gear on the trailer i
HUGE! especially for a ki

One of my (many) must-gets is a tandem now; altho i suspect that wil
mean towing the wife about (altho she is tempting me with europea
holiday on said tandem...


-

kingsley wrote:
Bought a trailer bike on the weekend...
here's my brane-dump before I forget it all:

There are a few brands available locally:

Burley - the 'Piccolo' ~ $900
Giant - 'Half-Wheeler' ~ $399
Adams - Trailer-Bike ~ $350 (also a tandem model)
Alley-Cat - Never saw one ~ (guess) $300
Pacific - $300 / $350
Some other brand $275


We borrowed a SS alley-cat, to make sure Katia (5) wasn't
going to say "I hate riding the trailer-bike". Tried it
out on a bikepath & she loved it.

Poking around on news & the web led me to believe the
usual failing point is the hitch with the bike. All trailers
except the Burley connect to the seatpost with various
different clamping mechanisms. The biggest problem reported
is the develpment of 'play' in the hitch. Supposedly the
Burley was immune to this, but I stopped considering it
as soon as I got the quote (from Greenspeed, the official Aus.
retailer).

Most of the lower-end trailer bikes are CrMo steel, and much
the same. Basically you need to spend around $300 to get anything.

When we borrowed the AlleyCat, it was given to us with
the seat+seatpost attached - this was a fairly good indication
as to how easily it detached.

Gears didn't interest me - when the kids are big enough to
get to grips with the gears, they'll probably want their
own full-size bike. This doesn't significantly affect your
choice, most trailer bikes can come with or without gears.

Our target application, apart from weekend riding, is to do
some siginificaqnt touring early next year. So we were definately
looking for something of quality. Also needed to attach a
rear rack & mud-guard.

We ended up buying the Giant one, but had to go home from the
bike shop (45mins each way) to see if, when connected, the
tow arm will clear the rack (50cm, 700C touring bike). It did!

The giant model is an Aluminium alloy rather than steel, and
feels significantly lighter than the others. The hitch is a
quick-release clamp, looks fairly robust (we'll see in 6 months).
The tow-arm is hinged in the middle, and folds back on itself...
thus it can fit inside the car (holden stationwagon), 'cause
these things are a bugger to put on a bikerack.

So, um, that's about it.

cheers,
-kt


Does anyone know of an LBS in melbourne that has a decent range of
trailer bikes. Ivanhoe is probably closest to me and they've usually
only got 2 or 3 and I don't want to spend a day going from shop to shop
trying to compare them all if I can help it (rather be out riding with
the family). Or is there just not the demand for anyone to have a large
stock of them?
Dave B.

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 12:19:07 +1000, DaveB Wrote :

snip - big time


Does anyone know of an LBS in melbourne that has a decent range of
trailer bikes. Ivanhoe is probably closest to me and they've usually
only got 2 or 3 and I don't want to spend a day going from shop to shop
trying to compare them all if I can help it (rather be out riding with
the family). Or is there just not the demand for anyone to have a large
stock of them?
Dave B.


I was going past Hillmans about 3.00 am the other day and I _thought_ I
saw some in the window. I was in "head down - arse up" mode with a
pretty good headwind so I didn't really look. ( I _did_ have a ROARING
tailwind a few hours earlier though - what goes around comes around
I guess..... Anyway it couldn't hurt to give 'em a ring.


Ooroo


--

Humbug

On Mon, 12 Apr 2004 23:42:31 +0000, flyingdutch wrote:

One of my (many) must-gets is a tandem now; altho i suspect that will
mean towing the wife about (altho she is tempting me with european
holiday on said tandem... )

We're considering this, but flying with a tandem
seems pretty nightmareish. You'd just about have to dismantle
the bugger to get it into any sort of bike box. Mind-you
carrying a pair of wrapped/boxed bikes around an airport isn't
much fun either.

You gonna take the kids ?

I rode my half-bike + trailer-bike + trailer on the weekend.
Only did a 22k bikepath (Katia's first significant test-ride on
the trailer bike). I thought it would be quite difficult to turn,
but being doubly-articulated(sp?), it turned somewhat as easily
as the tandem.

Our biggest problem on the tandem is that Larissa seems to prefer a
lower cadence than me. Sheldon's reckons that smaller crank arms on
the front(?) fixes this a little... not sure myself.


-kt

kingsley wrote:
Bought a trailer bike on the weekend...
here's my brane-dump before I forget it all:

There are a few brands available locally:

Burley - the 'Piccolo' ~ $900
Giant - 'Half-Wheeler' ~ $399
Adams - Trailer-Bike ~ $350 (also a tandem model)
Alley-Cat - Never saw one ~ (guess) $300
Pacific - $300 / $350
Some other brand $275


We borrowed a SS alley-cat, to make sure Katia (5) wasn't
going to say "I hate riding the trailer-bike". Tried it
out on a bikepath & she loved it.

Poking around on news & the web led me to believe the
usual failing point is the hitch with the bike. All trailers
except the Burley connect to the seatpost with various
different clamping mechanisms. The biggest problem reported
is the develpment of 'play' in the hitch. Supposedly the
Burley was immune to this, but I stopped considering it
as soon as I got the quote (from Greenspeed, the official Aus.
retailer).

Most of the lower-end trailer bikes are CrMo steel, and much
the same. Basically you need to spend around $300 to get anything.

When we borrowed the AlleyCat, it was given to us with
the seat+seatpost attached - this was a fairly good indication
as to how easily it detached.

Gears didn't interest me - when the kids are big enough to
get to grips with the gears, they'll probably want their
own full-size bike. This doesn't significantly affect your
choice, most trailer bikes can come with or without gears.

Our target application, apart from weekend riding, is to do
some siginificaqnt touring early next year. So we were definately
looking for something of quality. Also needed to attach a
rear rack & mud-guard.

We ended up buying the Giant one, but had to go home from the
bike shop (45mins each way) to see if, when connected, the
tow arm will clear the rack (50cm, 700C touring bike). It did!

The giant model is an Aluminium alloy rather than steel, and
feels significantly lighter than the others. The hitch is a
quick-release clamp, looks fairly robust (we'll see in 6 months).
The tow-arm is hinged in the middle, and folds back on itself...
thus it can fit inside the car (holden stationwagon), 'cause
these things are a bugger to put on a bikerack.

So, um, that's about it.

cheers,
-kt


Woo Hoo, just picked up the trailer bike and the test ride up and down
the street ended up being up and down and up and down and ...one more
time Dad this is fantastic. Ended up going with the Pacific for $280.
Just one question, I assume the connection between it and my bike is
supposed to allow the trailer bike to swivel on turns, ie. much like a
car trailer would, rather than be fixed into a position permanently in
line wiht my bike's frame?? Everything seems to be as tight as it can go.

Dave B.

Daveb wrote:
Woo Hoo, just picked up the trailer bike and the test ride up and
down the street ended up being up and down and up and down and ...one
more time Dad this is fantastic. Ended up going with the Pacific for
$280. Just one question, I assume the connection between it and my
bike is supposed to allow the trailer bike to swivel on turns, ie.
much like a car trailer would, rather than be fixed into a position
permanently in line wiht my bike's frame?? Everything seems to be as
tight as it can go.
Dave B.


cool. enjoy

yep, meant to swivel. if it stayed in line your passenger would b
continuously swiped sideways and the bracket wouldnt last lon

the shorter cranks should slow your spped down and hence allow you
stoker to keep at their liked cadenc

re travelling with the tandem, its probably going to be a buy-it-over
there job as prices/choice is so much better in the UK/europe. Have yo
seen those (cant remember the name. checkout ThornUK website) links yo
can put into a frame to make it collapsible? just a thought..

Take the kids? are you mad :


-